States risk losing investors over weak data protection — NDPC

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has cautioned that states not adopting robust data protection measures could lose investor confidence and face reduced investment opportunities. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, emphasized that effective data protection could enhance a state's credibility, build public trust, and attract foreign investment.

He urged states to prioritize action at the state level, adopting frameworks and policies for implementing national data protection laws, rather than enacting separate state laws. The NDPC has registered over 38,000 organizations, with 346 licensed data protection compliance organizations, and the workforce in this sector has grown from fewer than 1,000 to over 27,000 within three years.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, highlighted that insufficient privacy protection could hinder Nigeria's digital development, stressing the importance of trust and a secure environment for citizen engagement and investment. The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) emphasized the crucial role of states in creating a credible national data protection system, ensuring citizens' privacy and security remain uncompromised in the face of increasing digitalization.